Hose nozzle



F. WORNALL Feb. 3, 1953 HOSE NOZZLE Filed Nov. 25, 1949 Patented Feb. 3, 1953 HOSE NOZZLE Francis Wornall, Kansas City, Mo., assignor, by

direct and mesne assignments, to K. C. Fire Nozzle t Equipment Co., a corporation of Missouri Application November 25, 1949, Serial N o. 129,369

9 Claims.

This invention relates in general to hose nozzles and it deals more particularly with re hose nozzles for controlling water discharge.

An object of the invention is to provide an adjustable nozzle adapted to issue a water stream of optimum character under all conditions of operation encountered in practice.

Another object is to provide an adjustable nozzle adapted to issue any desired character of stream at any desired pressure within a predetermined range, regardless of the water inlet pressure to the nozzle.

A further object is to provide an adjustable re hose nozzle that can be manned by a single operator without assistance, and with which the best type of stream for any type of fire can be obtained by the operator at will.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a fire hose nozzle with anl adjustable valve mechanism in the nozzle for controlling the rate of flow of water therethrough.

A further object is to provide a hose nozzle which may readily be converted for use in issuing either a straight stream or a fog type of stream.

Other and further objects of the invention together with the features of novelty whereby the objects are achieved will appear in the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals are employed to indicate like parts of the various views.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross section of a nozzle embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a transverse cross section taken along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows, and

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross section taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral IiI indicates generally a shut off valve of conventional type connected onto the discharge end of a hose II; the mechanism of this valve has not been detailed since its specic construction forms no part of the present invention, but it will be understood that the valve is opened and closed by a handle I2, adapted to be shifted manually from closed position, shown by solid lines, to open position shown by dotted lines, and vice versa. Under operating conditions the valve is at all times either completely closed or completely opened, it being impractical or impossible under usual line pressures to hold it in any intermediate position,

Numeral I3 indicates a conventional tapered nozzle tip. This is internally threaded at its large end, and in the usual fire hose nozzle assembly employed in the past, it has been customary to screw the tip directly on the matching externally threaded end I4 of the shut-off valve It. In an assembly of this kind the nremen manning the nozzle had virtually no control over the stream issuing therefrom, other than could be achieved by the removal of one tip and the substitution of a tip having a different taper and a discharge opening of different size. Some adjustment of the type of stream was possible, of course, by adjusting the pressure on the hose at the hydrant (or at the pumper if the hose was connected to the latter) but in fire fighting a number of hoses ordinarily are connected to the same hydrant or the same pumper, and adjustment of pressure to obtain the desired type of stream at one nozzle inevitably affects one or more of the other hose streams adversely.

Another shortcoming of the conventional nozzle assembly resides in the fact that when the shut-off valve I0 is opened the surge of the stream from the nozzle at full pressure imposes: a tremendous backward force on the nozzle-a force so great that in the average case three men are required to hold the nozzle. The backward force continues to a considerable extent throughout the time the valve is open and the volume of water rushing through the nozzle has so much momentum and inertia that it is difficult for them to shift the nozzle, for example, to play the stream from side to side while maintaining it under complete control. A

To overcome these difculties and to obtain other advantages which will be pointed out presently, I have removed the tip I3 from the shutoff valve I0 and have interposed between them a control valve assembly I5 and a stream straightener I6 now to be described.

The control valve comprises a stationary inner barrel I'I and rotatable outer barrel I8, the two being screw threadedly connected as shown at f I9 whereby rotation of the outer barrel. causes the same to travel axially relative the inner barrel. The inner barrel has an enlarged internally threaded flange section 2|] at one end for attachment to the threads I4 of the shut-off valve, and, at the opposite end it has a longitudinal web 2l extending diametrically. across the bore of the barrel. This web supports; a forwardly projecting stem 22, the rear portionof whichis a section of reduced diameter threaded. into a tapped hole in the center of the web and secured by a cap nut 23.

At the forward end of the stem, and preferably formed integral therewith, is a stationary valve Eil. The rear face 24a of the valve lies in a flat plane perpendicular to the axis of the barrel and, as shown, is adapted to seat about its margin on the forward face 25a of an annular rib or protuberance 25 formed in the bore of the rotatable barrel i3. To facilitate turning the outer barrel (for example, to back the seat 25a away from the valve) a tight fitting rubber sleeve 26 is provided on the exterior of the barrel; secured to the barrel by a retaining nut 2l, this may be ribbed longitudinally, knurled or otherwise surface marked to afford a suitable hand grip. A packing gasket 28 between the two barrels held in place by a packing nut 29 prevents leakage of water through the threaded section I9 of the barrels.

The forward end 3@ of the rotatable barrel is externally threaded to receive the internally threaded flange 3l of the stream straightener le. The opposite end of the stream straightener is externally threaded as shown to receive the usual nozzle tip i3. Gaskets 32 and 32 are provided to prevent leakage at the respective joints, and

a lock nut 33 is'provided to additionally secure the stream straightener to barrel I8.

Essentially, the stream straightener, as its name implies, comprises a set of longitudinal vanes or fins 3ft through which the stream passes en route to the tip, the fins being so arranged as to substantially prevent rotation of the stream about its own axis and overcome turbulence of the water resulting from its passage through the control valve l5. Conveniently, the fins may extend radially from a small central tube 35 as shown, but it will be understood that any disposition of the varies which subdivides the bore into a number of straight parallel passageways (e. g. crossed, vertical and horizontal vanes) will be satisfactory.

Returning to the valve 2d, it will be seen that the forward surface 24h is conical and the valve as a whole is disposed in a chamber 3S formed partly in the rotatable barrel i8 and partly in the attached stream straightener. This chamber flares outwardly from the valve seat 25a, then continues for a short distance parallel to the axis of the bore Where it joins an annular V-nctch 3l, the forward face of which is substantially parallel to the forward face Zlib of the valve. This notch lies at the end of barrel I8. Proceeding forwardly the valve chamber 36 comprises a tapered bore 36a in the stream straightener, the vanes 34 being disposed in a cylindrical section intermediate the tapered section just mentioned and the tapered passageway formed by the tip I3.

In using the assembly illustrated, the shutoff valve lil is opened rst permitting full line pressure to be imposed on the closed control valve 2d. Then the latter valve is opened slowly by the operator, by manually rotating barrel I 8 to back the valve seat 25a away from the valve. Because this can be done slowly, it avoids the tremendous surge ordinarily experienced, and the operation can be performed by a single man holding the nozzle. The control valve can be opened to whatever degree is necessary to obtain the type of stream desired, and thus the man at the nozzle can adjust and control the stream regardless of the hydrant or pumper pressure connected to the hose; it is possible, in other words, to have a number of hoses connected to the same hydrant or pumper and yet obtain in each case the type of stream desired regardless of whether the hose in that case is long or short and regardless of whether a light or heavy stream is needed.

Tests show that on an average the best type of stream is developed when the discharge pressure of the stream at the tip is in the neighborhood of 50 p. s. i., and at this pressure, one man can hold and manipulate the nozzle either without assistance or with a minimum of assistance. In the past, for a given hydrant pressure or pumper pressure, the nozzle man could adjust the discharge pressure up and down toward this optimum value only by selecting a tip having a smaller or larger discharge opening; in making such a selection, however, he obviously had no choice as to the volume-carrying capacity of that tip and the carrying distance of the stream. Since water volume and carrying distance are factors of primary importance in fire fighting, these, rather than discharge pressure, customarily have been the determining factors in selecting tip size, and because nozzles therefore have rarely been operated at optimum discharge pressure, two orr three men have been necessary at each nozzle. With my arrangement, however, any tip size may be selected and regardless of the tip size cr the hose pressure maintained by the hydrant or pumper, optimum discharge pressure at the nozzle can be obtained by proper adjustment of the control valve I5.

It also is possible to produce a Afog stream with my nozzle simply by loosening the lock nut 33 and removing the end sections of the nozzle, comprising the stream straightener and nozzle tip. As a matter ofl fact, a wide variety of streams can be obtained with Vthe latter parts omitted from the assembly. For example, using a hydrant pressure of approximately 150 p. s. i. and a rotatable barrel I3 whose discharge opening is approximately 2 inches in diameter, the following streams are obtained in practice:

l. With the valve seat backed 01T from the valve 11s inch-a comparatively straight, solid stream having minimum turbulence, carrying '70 feet and having a spread cf approximately 3 feet diameter at 70 feet.

2. With the valve seat backed oil from the valve 1/3 inch-a straight, comparatively solid stream having minimum turbulence, carrying feet and having a spread of 8 feet diameter at 80 feet.

3. With the valve seat backed oif from the valve 1/4 inch-a straight, solid stream having minimum turbulence, carrying feet and having a spread of approximately 8 feet diameter at 140 feet.

4,. With the valve seat backed off from the valve inch-a straight, comparatively solid stream having minimum turbulence, carrying feet and having a spread of approximately l0 feet diameter at 160 feet.

5. With the valve seat backed off from the valve 1/2 inch--a well distributed stream of semifog character diverging 40 at the nozzle, carrying approximately 80 feet and having a spread of 25 feet diameter at 80 feet.

6. With the valve seat backed on' from the valve 3A inch--a well filled fog stream diverging 60 at the nozzle and carrying 65 feet.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinoefore set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the apparatus.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinatons are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

Inasmuch as various embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a hose nozzle, a tube connected at its rear end to the discharge end of a hose, said tube having an internal spider carrying a central stem projecting longitudinally beyond the forward end of the tube and terminating in an enlarged valve, the face of the valve nearest said tube being disposed in a fiat plane perpendicular to the axis of the tube and the opposite face of the valve tapering forwardly to an apex, an extension tube encircling said stem and valve, said extension tube screw threadedly connected to said first tube whereby rotation of the tubes relative one another causes said extension tube to travel longitudinally relative said stem and valve, said extension tube having an internal annular rib adapted to seat against said flat face of the valve, the bore of said extension tube flaring outwardly from said seat around said valve and terminating at the open end of the tube in an annular V-notch encircling the forward face of the valve, the outer face of said V -notch substantially paralleling said forward face of the valve.

2, In a hose nozzle, a tube connected at its rear end to the discharge end of a hose, said tube having an internal spider carrying a central stem projecting longitudinally beyond the forward end of the tube and terminating in an enlarged valve, the face of said valve nearest said tube being disposed in a flat plane perpendicular to the axis of the tube and the opposite face of the valve tapering forwardly to an apex, an extension tube encircling said stem and valve, said extension tube being screw threadedly connected to said first tube whereby rotation of said tubes relative one another causes the extension tube to travel longitudinally relative said stem and valve, said extension tube having an internal annular rib adapted to seat against said fiat face of the valve, the bore of said extension tube fiaring outwardly from said seat around said valve and then converging forwardly substantially parallel to the forward face of the valve.

3. In a hose nozzle, a tube adapted to be connected at its rear end to the discharge end of a hose, a second tube co-axial with said first tube, said second tube supported on said first tube for limited movement axially thereof and having its forward end projecting beyond the forward end of said first tube, said second tube having a large bore extending inwardly from its forward end and terminating in an annular shoulder with a smaller bore extending inwardly beyond said shoulder, said shoulder spaced inwardly from the forward end of said second tube by a distance less than the diameter of said larger bore whereby the shoulder and larger bore form the bottom and sides respectively of a relatively shallow pocket at the forward end of said second tube, said first tube having an internal spider carrying a central stem projecting longitudinally through said smaller bore and terminating in an enlarged valve 6. disposed in said pocket, the rear face of said valve adapted to seat on said shoulder when said second tube is advanced axially relative to said first tube and adapted to unseat when the second tube is moved in the opposite direction, the forward face of said valve tapering forwardly to an apex which projects slightly beyond the plane of the forward end of said second tube when the rear face of said valve is seated on said shoulder.

Il. A nozzle as in claim 3 wherein said larger bore has an annular V-notch the outer face of which terminates at the extreme forward end of said bore.

5. A nozzle as in claim 4 wherein the outer face of said notch is substantially parallel to the forward face of said valve.

6. In a dual purpose hose nozzle, a tube adapted to be connected at its rear end to the discharge end of a hose, a second tube co-axial with said first tube, said second tube supported on said first tube for limited movement `axially thereof and having its forward end projecting beyond the forward end of said rst tube, said second tube having a large bore extending inwardly from its forward end and terminating in an annular shoulder with a smaller' bore extending inwardly beyond said shoulder, said shoulder spaced inwardly from the forward end of said second tube by a distance less than the diameter of said larger bore whereby the shoulder and larger bore form the bottom and sides respectively of a relatively shallow pocket at the forward end of said second tube, said first tube having an in-` ternal spider carrying a central stem projecting longitudinally through said smaller bore and terminating in an enlarged valve disposed in said picket, the rear face of said valve being adapted to seat on said shoulder when said second tube is advanced axially relative to said first tube and adapted to unseat when the second tube is moved in the opposite direction, and an elongated tubular nozzle tip detachably connected to the forward end of said second tube, said tip having a bore whose diameter at the rear end of said tip is substantially the same as the diameter of said large bore, the bore of said tip converging forwardly toward the discharge end of said tip.

7. In a hose nozzle, a tube adapted to be connected at its rear end to the discharge end of a hose, a second tube co-axial with said rst tube, said second tube supported on said first tube for limited movement axially thereof and having its forward end projecting beyond the forward end of said first tube, said second tube having a large bore extending inwardly from its forward end and terminating in an annular shoulder with a smaller bore extending inwardly beyond said shoulder, said shoulder spaced inwardly from the forward end of said second tube by a distance less than the diameter of said larger bore whereby the shoulder and larger bore form the bottom and sides respectively of a relatively shallow pocket at the forward end of said second tube, said first tube having an internal spider carrying a central stern projecting longitudinally through said smaller bore and terminating in an enlarged valve disposed in said pocket, the rear face of said valve adapted to seat on said shoulder when said second tube is advanced axially relative to said first tube and adapted to unseat when the second tube is moved in the opposite direction, the forward face of said valve tapering forwardly to an apex which propjects slightly beyond the plane of the forward end of said second tube when the rear face of said valve is seated on said should-er, and an; elongated tubular nozzlel detachably connected to the forward endof said tube, saidtip having a bore whose diameter at the rear end of said tip is substantially the same as the diameter of said large bore, the bore of said tipA converging forwardly toward the discharge endof said tip'.

8. A nozzle as in claim 7 wherein the bore of said nozzle tip converges forwardly at an angle oblique to the forward face of said Valve.

9. In a hose nozzle, a tube adapted to be connected at its rear end to the discharge end of a hose, a second tube co-axial with said first tube, said second tube supported on said first tube for limited movement axially thereof and having its forward end projecting beyond the forward end of said rst tube, said second tube having a large bore extending inwardly from its forward end and terminating in an annular shoulder with a smaller bore extending inwardly beyond said shoulder, said shoulder spaced inwardly from the forward end of said second tube by a distance less than the diameter of said larger bore whereby the shoulder and larger bore form the bottom and sides respectively of a relatively shallow pocket at the forward end of said second tube, said rst tube having an internal spider carrying a central stem projecting longitudinally through said smaller bore and terminating in an enlarged valve disposed in Said pocket, the rear face of said valve adapted to seat on said shoulder when said second tube is advanced axially relative to said first tube and adapted to unseat when the second tube is moved in the opposite direction, the forward face of said valve tapering forwardly to an apexA which projectsA slightly beyond the plane of the forward end, of said second tube when the, rear face of said valve is seated on said shoulder, said larger bore having an annular V-notch the outer face of which is substantially parallel to the forward iace of said valve and terminates on the extreme forward end of said bore, and an elongated tubular nozzle tip detachably connected to the forward end of said second tube, said tip having a bore whose diameter at the rear end of said tip is substantially the same as the diameter of said large bore, the bore of said tip converging forwardly at an angle oblique to the forward face of said valve.

FRANCIS VJORNALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 612,934 Schraubstadter Oct. 25, 1898 946,228 Kenlon Jan. 11, 1910 1,582,782 Price Apr. 27, 1925 1,625,042 McArdle Apr. 19, 19.2'.7 2,054,964 Barker Sept. 22, 1936 2,089,304 Stein Aug. l0, 1937 2,417,655 Lindsay Mar. 18, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Y 376,023 Great Britain July 7, 1932 543,359 Great Britain Feb. 2G, 1942 

